Hello, hopeful PNMs! I have been in your shoes, and I know that terrifying feeling that makes your stomach turn every time you think about sorority recruitment. It is a mix of both excitement and nervousness. You want to plan and prepare as much as you can before it is here, but you don't really know how. While working at freshman orientation to promote my sorority to the incoming freshman, I had many girls ask me for advice for recruitment. Here is some practical and serious advice that I would have greatly benefited from when I was going through recruitment.

First, the practical advice.

• Don't wear heels if you don't have to. Walking up and down row will kill your feet and it will be really hard to focus on your conversation if all you can think about is the pain your feet are in. The exception to this is on pref day when you won't go to as many houses and you won't spend as much time waiting around.
• Do bring a mini battery-powered fan. It gets hot standing outside waiting for the parties to start. This little item will keep you cool and will make everyone in line love you.
• Do bring breath mints and don't bring gum. I know gum is more fun, but it is hard to chew and spit out gum before a round, and chewing gum while carrying on a conversation can be distracting. Mints are easy to quickly eat and will leave your breath fresh and you, confident.
• Do bring coffee filters. These double as a cheap oil blotting sheet and will quickly take the shine off your face before the party starts.
• Do bring a mini deodorant or body spray. Waiting outside before the parties start will get hot.
• If you live below the gnat line, do bring Bounce dryer sheets. A sheet tucked into your pocket will keep the gnats away. I have experienced this work, first hand. It also works to keep mosquitoes away and it smells good!
• Stay hydrated and eat breakfast. I know that it is hard to eat when you are nervous, but it is super embarrassing to pass out inside a house, or outside on the concrete. Trust me. Taking care of your body will help you feel calm and confident before a round.

Now, for the more serious advice.

• Be yourself. I cannot stress this enough. It is so important to be yourself and not try to be someone else during recruitment. You want to find a home in the sorority that fits you best. If you aren't yourself during recruitment, you may not find the right home for you and you'll feel like you have to keep trying all the time to fit in. I promise if you be yourself and be honest, you'll be happy in the home you end up in.
• Trust the system. I know this may be the toughest part. If a house that you really loved releases you, it is easy to take it really personally and let it ruin your experience. Don't let it. You will end up where you are supposed to be. Everything happens for a reason and you can't let it shake your confidence in yourself. You know your value and you will be so happy in the house you get. Stick it out to the end and at least give the other sororities a chance. You have nothing to lose by sticking it out and you may come to find that you have a new favorite at the end of the week.
• Do not engage in gossip. If you had a bad experience with a house, keep it to yourself and please please don't talk about it in a crowded place where you will be overheard. To you, the house may have felt awkward, but to the girl behind you, it could be one of her only houses left, and she really loves it. Please remain respectful and positive about all the houses. You wouldn't want someone bad mouthing the house you are in love with would you?
• Keep an open mind. If you put all your energy and attention into one house and one house only, you may miss out on some great conversations. Even if you know you only want ABC, you should still be open and positive at house XYZ. If you close yourself off or have a bad attitude, it makes for really uncomfortable and awkward conversations with you. Think of it as perfecting your conversation skills before you get to house ABC. Remember that these girls love their letters, and you never know, if you give them a chance you may love them, too.
• Be calm and confident. Trust me, these girls are just as nervous as you are. Some are even more nervous than you are. The sororities want you to love them and choose them so they feel pressure as well. The sororities have been here for weeks practicing so take a deep breath and remember that you are awesome. Also don't over think things. I know that this is pretty futile advice to give because we tend to overthink everything, but you will drive yourself insane if you try to analyze everything that happened. Take everything one step at a time, and enjoy the process.
• If you have a story, tell it. If you are having a conversation and a story comes to mind, tell it. The sororities will remember a story more than they will facts. It will also lead to a more interesting and natural conversation. Likewise, if you have a question, ask it. We are dying to answer your questions, and most of the time, asking one question will start a long conversation where both parties can learn a lot.

I hope that this advice is helpful and that you feel a little more calm going into recruitment! We are so excited to start recruitment and share why our sororities mean so much to us.